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| SOLA GRATIA |
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| SOLA FIDE |
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| SOLA SCRIPTURA |
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Divine Service |
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The word worship is defined as, “reverent honor and homage
paid to God.” This adoration is usually done with
ceremonies and rites. The usual meaning of this word,
however can lead us astray. There is much about this
meaning that is good. The Triune God (Father, Son, &
Holy Spirit) is worthy of honor and homage. However, in
many churches today, the main direction in worship is
from the worshipper to the worshipped. In other words,
the direction is from man to God, which makes the
activity ours and centered on what we do. Such a view is
the direct opposite to the Lutheran understanding of
worship.
Worship, from the beginning in the Tabernacle and later
the Temple found in the Old Testament, was always about
God coming to his people. It begins with God. It has its
foundations and source from God. It is God speaking and
we listen. Worship begins with God’s word, continues
with God’s word, and ends with God’s word. Today, God,
through his Word and gifts (Baptism, Communion, and
Absolution), comes to us. The rhythm of our worship is
from God to us and then from us to God.
Such an understanding of worship is quite different from
the dictionary definition of the word. It is for that
reason that the Lutheran Church has historically shown a
preference for the word service in place of the word
worship. Sunday morning is called the Divine Service.
In the Divine Service, the divine (God) comes to us. He
gives us his Words and Sacraments. Only then do we
respond in our thanksgiving and praise.
The Apostle St. Paul writes that “We preach Christ
crucified.” (1 Cor. 1:23) The Divine Service is
Christocentric (Christ-centered) and not the
man-centered activity usually defined as worship. The
Divine Service does not have gimmicks or current fads
and trends, which are here today and gone tomorrow. The
truths found in the Divine Service are timeless and
eternal. We use the historic One-Year lectionary so
that we “proclaim to you the whole will of God.” (Acts
20:27)
Most of the words found in the Divine Service are
directly from the Holy Scriptures (the Bible) or are
indirectly from the Scriptures (such as the Apostle’s
and Nicene Creeds). God speaks to us through His Word
and we speak back to Him what He has given us!
Some of the elements of the Divine Service reach all the
way back over 3000 years to early Hebrew worship in the
Tabernacle and the Temple. (Some examples are the use of
the Psalter (Psalms), Old Testament readings, the
Aaronic Benediction, etc.) This is not to say that we do
things exactly like the Old Testament or even early New
Testament worship, but rather we are connected to the
worship and practices of God’s people in all places and
throughout all time.
Here at St. Andrew we use one of the five (5) Divine
Services found in the Lutheran Service Book (Hymnal).
Occasionally we may use other traditional liturgical
services such as Matins, Morning Prayer, or the Service
of Prayer and Preaching as found in the Lutheran Service
Book.
The Divine Service is timeless and eternal. It is not
flashy or full of “entertainment.” In the Divine Service
you will find the things that sustained the first
Christians, namely, the simple Word and Sacraments.
“They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and
to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to
prayer.” (Acts 2:42) The Divine Service is reverent,
respectful, dignified, and sacred (set apart). We enter
His sanctuary and come before a Holy and righteous God
as sinners in need of His forgiveness. And “If we
confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will
forgive our sins and cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9) We invite you to
receive God’s forgiveness here at St. Andrew in His
Divine Service.+Soli Deo Gloria+
(To God alone be the Glory) |
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